Melbourne Monopoly

10 Dec 2015

By Jack Hayes

The new Melbourne edition of Monopoly has hit stores, with streets making way for landmarks – and Southbank features notably.

In all, 22 Melbourne and greater Melbourne property landmarks were selected to replace the famous London streets from the original board after the public was invited to offer up their suggestions via email and Facebook, earlier this year.

Southbank’s prominence in the adapted version of the world’s favourite board game is indicative of its evolving position in Melbourne’s cultural makeup.

With Melburnians noted for their love for the arts, Southbank plays host to two of the “red”’ spaces on the new edition of the game.

The National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne and Royal Exhibition Building now occupy the traditional positions of The Strand, Fleet St and Trafalgar Square.

Next to join those three positions is Southbank’s iconic Eureka Skydeck. Melbourne’s tallest building will now be featured on the “Light Blue” position.

The place where memories are made and childhood dreams come alive, the famed MCG has scooped the board’s most exclusive and coveted “Mayfair” site, with Federation Square scoring the other Blue position.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said bringing Melbourne and Monopoly together was a great idea. “Being named the World’s Most Livable City for five years in a row, it makes sense for Melbourne to have its own version of the world’s most famous board game.”

The new edition of the game also features quintessential Melbourne-esque tokens; a tram, take away coffee cup, Phar Lap, Sherrin Football, graffiti spray can and a city of literature book.

Equally relatable, roadways and journeys ask you to pay $15 million for being stuck on the Monash Freeway. Or on a more positive note, your friends take you on a road trip to the Twelve Apostles allowing you to collect $10 million from every player.